Eric Le
Product Designer
Cownect
is a platform designed to help UC Davis students discover clubs and communities that match their tech interests, from coding and AI to robotics and game development. the landing page aims to connect students with the right groups, making it easier for them to find a place to belong.
Role
Team
Duration
Tools
UI Designer
Cownect
Figma
Railway
June -
September
2025
Challenge
Many students struggle to discover clubs that align with their tech interests. the lack of a centralized, visually engaging hub made it hard for students to find communities where they could grow their skills and connect with like-minded peers.
Research & Inspiration
To ground the design, I looked at how platforms like Expresso approach discovery and navigation. what stood out was how effortless it felt to browse categories and quickly land on something relevant. This reinforced the need for a simple, visually digestible way to explore clubs at UC Davis.
Opportunity
Create an intuitive, visually engaging platform that helps students quickly identify clubs suited to their tech niche, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging participation.
Design Direction
Inspired by expresso’s approachable minimalism, I set out to design Cownect with a similar clean flow but a distinct identity. Blue accents became central to the palette, symbolizing trust, professionalism, and a connection to tech culture.
Maintained a minimal, breathable layout for clarity
Used blue accents to reinforce belonging and give cownect its own branded identity
Final Design & Takeaways
The final design blends inspiration from expresso with a distinct identity tailored to uc davis students. The result is a landing page that makes discovering clubs feel intuitive, engaging, and trustworthy.
The final design delivers a platform where students can quickly find clubs that align with their tech passions. by combining visual clarity, motivational cues, and a strong sense of identity,
Cownect turns what used to be an overwhelming process into a streamlined and inspiring one.
Cownect
Role
Team
Tools
UI Designer
Cownect
Figma
Railway
Duration
June -
September
2025
Challenge
Many students struggle to discover clubs that align with their tech interests. the lack of a centralized, visually engaging hub made it hard for students to find communities where they could grow their skills and connect with like-minded peers.
Opportunity
Create an intuitive, visually engaging platform that helps students quickly identify clubs suited to their tech niche, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging participation.
Research & Inspiration
To ground the design, I looked at how platforms like Expresso approach discovery and navigation. what stood out was how effortless it felt to browse categories and quickly land on something relevant. This reinforced the need for a simple, visually digestible way to explore clubs at UC Davis.
Design Direction
is a platform designed to help UC Davis students discover clubs and communities that match their tech interests, from coding and AI to robotics and game development. the landing page aims to connect students with the right groups, making it easier for them to find a place to belong.
Inspired by expresso’s approachable minimalism, I set out to design Cownect with a similar clean flow but a distinct identity. Blue accents became central to the palette, symbolizing trust, professionalism, and a connection to tech culture.
Maintained a minimal, breathable layout for clarity
Used blue accents to reinforce belonging and give cownect its own branded identity
Final Design & Takeaways
The final design blends inspiration from expresso with a distinct identity tailored to uc davis students. The result is a landing page that makes discovering clubs feel intuitive, engaging, and trustworthy.
The final design delivers a platform where students can quickly find clubs that align with their tech passions. by combining visual clarity, motivational cues, and a strong sense of identity,
Cownect turns what used to be an overwhelming process into a streamlined and inspiring one.